Given my excitement regarding the initial tracklist for the new Guitar Hero, I'm very eager to see what Rock Band will bring to this fall's music game showdown.

New details on the next Guitar Hero

[ps2][ps3][xbox360][wii]

Activision today announced the next installment of its popular Guitar Hero franchise. Developed by Neversoft, the next Guitar Hero entry--which the company was careful to not label as Guitar Hero III--is in the works for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. According to the announcement, the new game will add "a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues."

The release of the game will be accompanied by that of a wireless guitar controller for each system. The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii controllers will be designed to replicate the shape of Gibson Guitar's Les Paul line, with the PlayStation 2 controller based off the Gibson Kramer. All versions of the controller will allow users to customize the guitar with removable faceplates.

Today's announcement also provided the first look at the song list, which much like original developer Harmonix's Guitar Hero II (PS2, X360) and upcoming Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (PS2), features a mix of tracks performed by the original artists and "as made famous by" covers:

More details on the next full-fledged Guitar Hero release are expected as its fall release approaches.

Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda DS slated for this year

[wii][ds]

Speaking at the Nintendo Media Summit earlier this week, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime quelled certain gamer fears by confirming that several highly anticipated titles--Super Mario Galaxy (Wii), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii), and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (NDS)--are all on track for a 2007 release.

"Later on this year you'll be playing Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Zelda: Phantom Hourglass," Fils-Aime declared at the event's opening (thanks IGN). Fils-Aime's promise of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl by the year's end echoes a previous claim made by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

Raving Rabbids repeatedly ravage Rayman

[wii]

Ubisoft unveiled the sequel to its successful Wii launch title, Rayman Raving Rabbids. Once again a collection of miscellaneous mini-games, Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 follows Rayman as he attempts to prevent the Rabbids from invading Earth. Unlike the original Raving Rabbids, which was developed by Rayman creator Michael Ancel's team at Ubisoft Montpellier, the followup is being handled by Ubisoft Paris. At present, there are no plans to bring Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 to any platform beyond the Wii, though a DS iteration is possible.

"Rayman Raving Rabids 2 is made from the ground up for Wii," an Ubisoft representative told Shacknews. "This time there is much more of an emphasis on multiplayer with four-player games."

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 is expected this fall.

Haze obscures 360 and PC, focuses on PS3

[ps3][xbox360]

Publisher Ubisoft revealed that Free Radical's upcoming first-person shooter Haze will arrive on the PlayStation 3 in Q4 2007. In contrast to the original announcement,the company has removed any mentions of the Xbox 360 and PC versions from the game's fact sheet and official site, though is likely it will follow on those platforms in 2008.

During Ubisoft's recent San Francisco Ubidays event, an Ubisoft representative avoided using the word "exclusive" while discussing the PlayStation 3 edition with Shacknews. "We just felt that PS3 needed some love," the rep laughed.

A Dark Messiah graces Xbox 360

[xbox360]

Reports out of Ubisoft's European Ubidays event claim that a version of Arkane Studio's first person RPG Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is in development for the Xbox 360. The game, which saw release on PC in 2006, has been renamed Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements for the console crowd.

However, specific details of the title's release remain unclear. "At this time, this game has not been officially announced for a US release," a Ubisoft representative told GameSpot.

Nintendo marketing to find heart container in San Francisco

[gamecube][wii][ds][gba]

Confirming multiplerumors which began circulating earlier this month, Wired News has reportedly received word from Nintendo of America that the company plans to move its sales and marketing teams from the current Redmond, Washington headquarters to San Francisco, California. Some sixty employees, including VP George Harrison, will be relocating, while the remander of Nintendo's staff remains in Redmond. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a significant cluster of game development firms, as well as the bulk of the commercial United States video game press.

According to Harrison, the company is still finalizing its plans. "Down the road, being in the center of innovation for marketing and technology will benefit us. That's the real value of it. There's a chance to be closer to forming partnerships and staying on top of what's going on," he said on the decision. "It's nice. I've been down there many times. The weather's great, I've just got to figure out where to locate."

Joust thrust unto PS3

[ps3]

Sony Online Entertainment announced that Midway's arcade classic Joust will be available from the PlayStation 3's online PlayStation Store beginning tomorrow, May 24. Featuring online multiplayer and leaderboards, Joust will sell for $4.99.